-
Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)
Lion's Grove DGC reviews
9
0
Odd Course, Questionable Design 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 19, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
- Located in a nice park with lots of amenities
- Some interesting shots that use the limited elevation and trees well
- Some interesting shots that use the limited elevation and trees well
Cons:
- A number off problems in design and layout
- Very short average fairway length, but also not catered to beginners
- Very short average fairway length, but also not catered to beginners
Other Thoughts:
The Huntley Park District Disc Disc Golf Course is an odd course that doesn't quite seem to know what it wants to be. After my round I felt that the designer could have used some input with someone more experienced in course layout. The average hole length is under 250 feet, but there is a high chance for lost discs throughout the course, making the course much less beginner friendly than its length would imply. There are also a number of potential points of conflict with other park users/amenities, and the course in general feels cramped. I think this is a case of less is more: 9 holes on the same land would likely result in a better overall course.
The first hole tees off next to a pavilion, and during my mid-December round a family was sitting around a (permanent?) fire pit located about 100 feet just ahead and to the right of the tee pad, and right behind the basket for Hole 6. I have to imagine this type of conflict between park users to be frequent most of the year if I experienced it on a 40 degree day during a pandemic. You are also required to throw over a road on Hole 2, and then cross back to Hole 3's pad. While there hadn't yet been any accumulation of snow this year, the hill on which Hole 3's basket and Hole 4's teepad reside was encircled by mesh fencing to guide sledders down the hill, providing additional obstacles for both fairways. Many fairways also play somewhat close to each other, and multiple baskets are frequently visible from the tee. The transition from Hole 10's basket to 11's pad makes no sense, as it requires you to either wade through a marsh or walk somewhere between 750 to 1000 feet around the marsh and down 11's fairway. All of these issues make for a weird feeling round.
The actual golf here isn't bad. As a more experienced player, I enjoyed hunting for birdies on the short, but many times still technical holes. You will throw shots up and down hill, and both left and right turning. However, even in the winter, I could tell there are a lot of opportunities for lost discs in the marshy areas of the course. The length and general challenge of the course is better suited for less experienced players but there are too many chances for errant or even reasonably good shots to be lost, potentially adding a lot of frustration to a round.
The Discatchers are in good shape and have taped tines on the basket to indicate the direction to the next tee. The paved tee pads are sufficiently large and flat, and the tee signs are rudimentary but good enough for this short of a course. There is an odd tee pad with a blank sign pointing towards the parking lot that must be a remnant of the old course design. The park overall is very nice with many sports fields, a large park district building, and a pool.
Huntly Park DGC isn't a bad course, and you can definitely have a good time playing there, but there are a number of issues with the layout and design that are just asking for conflict or frustration during a round. This is a course that is nice to have in your neighborhood, but not worth traveling much distance to play.
The first hole tees off next to a pavilion, and during my mid-December round a family was sitting around a (permanent?) fire pit located about 100 feet just ahead and to the right of the tee pad, and right behind the basket for Hole 6. I have to imagine this type of conflict between park users to be frequent most of the year if I experienced it on a 40 degree day during a pandemic. You are also required to throw over a road on Hole 2, and then cross back to Hole 3's pad. While there hadn't yet been any accumulation of snow this year, the hill on which Hole 3's basket and Hole 4's teepad reside was encircled by mesh fencing to guide sledders down the hill, providing additional obstacles for both fairways. Many fairways also play somewhat close to each other, and multiple baskets are frequently visible from the tee. The transition from Hole 10's basket to 11's pad makes no sense, as it requires you to either wade through a marsh or walk somewhere between 750 to 1000 feet around the marsh and down 11's fairway. All of these issues make for a weird feeling round.
The actual golf here isn't bad. As a more experienced player, I enjoyed hunting for birdies on the short, but many times still technical holes. You will throw shots up and down hill, and both left and right turning. However, even in the winter, I could tell there are a lot of opportunities for lost discs in the marshy areas of the course. The length and general challenge of the course is better suited for less experienced players but there are too many chances for errant or even reasonably good shots to be lost, potentially adding a lot of frustration to a round.
The Discatchers are in good shape and have taped tines on the basket to indicate the direction to the next tee. The paved tee pads are sufficiently large and flat, and the tee signs are rudimentary but good enough for this short of a course. There is an odd tee pad with a blank sign pointing towards the parking lot that must be a remnant of the old course design. The park overall is very nice with many sports fields, a large park district building, and a pool.
Huntly Park DGC isn't a bad course, and you can definitely have a good time playing there, but there are a number of issues with the layout and design that are just asking for conflict or frustration during a round. This is a course that is nice to have in your neighborhood, but not worth traveling much distance to play.
